House Appropriations Committee Approves Bill Slashing FY26 Education Funding

The House Appropriations Committee approved the Republican Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Labor-HHS-Education funding bill on a party-line vote of . The measure, first advanced by the Subcommittee the pervious week, would slash federal education spending by $12 billion — a 15% cut to the U.S. Department of Education.

The legislation would make sweeping reductions across core federal education programs. Title I, which supports schools serving low-income students, would be cut by $4.7 billion. Title II-A (professional development), Title III (English Language Acquisition), and Adult Education programs would be eliminated entirely. The Department’s personnel budget would be reduced by $127 million, and the Office for Civil Rights would lose $91 million.

Although the bill provides modest increases for some programs — including $26 million more for IDEA special education funding, $23 million more for Career and Technical Education, and a $60 million boost for charter schools — the cuts far outweigh the gains. After-school funding would remain flat.

Amendment Debate Stretches Into Night
Democrats offered nearly 50 amendments during the full Committee markup, with about 15 directly tied to education and job training. Most sought to restore funding for eliminated programs but were voted down on party lines. Among the key education-related amendments:

  • Rep. Lee (D-NV) amendment to add $150 million for Full-Service Community Schools — failed, 28–34.

  • Rep. Espaillat (D-NY) amendment to add $890 million for English Language Acquisition — failed, 28–34.

  • Rep. Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) amendment to restore $91 million for the Office for Civil Rights — failed, 27–34.

  • Rep. Dean (D-PA) amendment to restore nearly $1.4 billion for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Federal Work Study — failed, 28–30, with at least one Republican voting yes.

  • Rep. DeLauro (D-CT) amendment to add back the $4.7 billion cut from Title I — failed, 30–32, with two Republicans voting yes.

A few non-funding amendments were adopted, including Rep. Cuellar’s (D-TX) directive protecting Hispanic-Serving Institutions from delays in funding, and Rep. Underwood’s (D-IL) measure prohibiting cuts to Job Corps centers without Department of Labor certification.

Next Steps and Shutdown Concerns
The House bill sets up a sharp contrast with the Senate’s bipartisan appropriations package, passed in July, which preserved funding for most education programs and protected Title II-A. The stark differences make it highly unlikely Congress will pass a final budget before September 30, when the fiscal year ends. Lawmakers are already discussing a Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown.

Shifting Programs to Labor Department
Separately, the Department of Education and Department of Labor announced this week that state formula grants for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and adult education will now be administered through DOL’s payment system. The move is part of a broader administration effort to shift these programs out of the Education Department, sparking concern among advocates that states may face new barriers to accessing funds.